Abstract
Purpose
To compare two different types of drug-eluting microspheres with regard to impact on HRQoL after first TACE, tumour response, peri-procedural complications, adverse events and 1-year survival in patients suffering from unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Methods
HRQoL was prospectively assessed with validated questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30 and -HCC18) before and 2 weeks after treatment with their first drug-eluting beads (DEB-)TACE with either acrylamido-polyvinylalcohol-AMPS hydrogel microspheres (groupDCB; 20 patients) or polyvinyl alcohol-co-acrylic acid microspheres (groupHS; 16 patients). Baseline characteristics, peri-procedural complications, treatment-related adverse events and 1-year survival were compared between both types of microspheres. Treatment response and objective response rates (ORR) were analysed using established tumour response criteria. Subgroup analysis for pooled groups with small (groupSMALL; 21 patients) versus large particles (groupLARGE; 15 patients) was performed.
Results
At baseline, there were no significant differences between the treated microsphere groups. No significant differences were found in absolute HRQoL changes after first DEB-TACE between the different types of microspheres. Response rates and survival were comparable between the investigated microsphere groups. For groupSMALL, we found a significant difference in post-interventional deterioration of physical function (− 19.4%) compared to groupLARGE (− 8%; p = 0.025). Tumour response and ORR according to mRECIST were significantly higher in groupSMALL (p = 0.008; p = 0.009).
Conclusion
DEB-TACE is generally well tolerated and effective, with comparable changes in HRQoL for both types of drug-eluting microspheres. Tumour response is better with small microspheres. A relevant deterioration of physical function underlines that an aggressive TACE using small beads should be well deliberated.
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Abbreviations
- AFP:
-
Alpha-fetoprotein
- AST:
-
Aspartate aminotransferase
- ALBI:
-
Albumin-Bilirubin
- ALT:
-
Alanine aminotransferase
- BCLC:
-
Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer
- BMI:
-
Body mass index
- CPS:
-
Child–Pugh score
- CR:
-
Complete response
- CRP:
-
C-reactive protein
- DEB:
-
Drug-eluting bead
- EASL:
-
European Association for the Study of the Liver
- EORTC:
-
European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer
- GHS:
-
Global health status
- HBV/HCV:
-
Hepatitis B/C virus
- HCC:
-
Hepatocellular carcinoma
- (HR)QoL:
-
(Health-related) quality of life
- MELD:
-
Model of End Stage Liver Disease
- mRECIST:
-
modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours
- ORR:
-
Objective response rates
- OS:
-
Overall survival
- PD:
-
Progressive disease
- PR:
-
Partial response
- RFA:
-
Radiofrequency ablation
- SD:
-
Stable disease
- (c)TACE:
-
(conventional) Transarterial chemoembolization
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The authors of this manuscript declare relationships with the following companies: Siemens Healthcare and ProMedicus (Bernhard Meyer and Frank Wacker; outside the submitted work). The remaining authors declare no relationships with any companies whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article.
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Grumme, J., Werncke, T., Meine, T.C. et al. Transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: quality of life, tumour response, safety and survival comparing two types of drug-eluting beads. Abdom Radiol 45, 3326–3336 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-019-02349-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-019-02349-w